1. God Is Faithful in His Character–Praise Him (vv. 1-18). The psalm opens on a joyful note of worship with praise to God from the psalmist (vv. 1-4), in heaven (vv. 5-8), and on earth (vv. 9-13), and especially from the people of Israel (vv. 14-18), who rejoice in the Lord all day long (v. 16). The psalmist sings (v. 1), the angels praise (v. 5), and even the mountains sing for joy (v. 12). Ethan praised the faithfulness of God’s character (vv. 1-2) and His covenant (vv. 3-4), about which he has much to say (vv. 3, 28, 34, 39). Because he wanted to instruct and encourage the coming generations (see 78:1-8), Ethan wrote down his praise and his prayer. God had sworn to David that his dynasty and throne would continue forever (vv. 28-29, 35-36, 49; 2 Sam. 7:13), but future generations of Jews would live without any king, let alone a king from David’s line. Ethan wanted them to know that God’s mercy (“lovingkindness,” nasb; “love,” niv) was being built up (v. 2) even though the city and temple had been torn down and the crown and throne of David had been cast down (vv. 39, 44). God was still on His throne (v. 14), and David’s line (“seed”) was secured forever in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (vv. 4, 29, 36-37; see Heb. 1:8; 5:6; 7:28; 10:12; 13:8, 21; Rev. 11:15). The “sure mercies [loving-kindnesses, v. 1] of David” will never fail (Isa. 55:3; Acts 13:34). God had not forsaken His servant David (vv. 3, 20, 39; 2 Sam. 7:5, 8, 20-21, 25-29).

Heaven is a place of worship, and the angels praise the Lord for His glorious attributes (vv. 5-8; see Rev. 4; 5), for there is no god like Him (Ex. 15:11). But the earth joins the hymn, and even the mighty waves of the sea obey Him and praise Him. The tumultuous sea is an image of the nations (93:3; Isa. 17:12-13; Rev. 13:1; 17:15), so Ethan mentioned God’s victory over Egypt (Rahab, Ps. 87:4; Isa. 51:9). The “scattering” of God’s enemies (v. 10) reminds us of Numbers 10:35. Hermon is an imposing mountain to the far north, near Damascus, and Tabor is a much smaller mount about fifty miles southwest of Hermon. Ethan heard the mountains singing praises to God, just as Isaiah did centuries before (Isa. 55:12).

If any people on earth have a right to praise God, it is the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. They had a holy land, given to them by God, a royal dynasty chosen by God, and the light of the holy law that guided their steps in the ways of the Lord. They had a holy priesthood to serve them and bless them (v. 15; see Num. 6:24-26), men who would blow the trumpets to signal the special holy days and feasts (“the joyful sound”; see 81:1). In verse 18, “our shield” (nasb, niv) refers to their king (84:9), now in captivity. In many Jewish synagogues today, verses 15-18 are recited on their New Year’s Day after the blowing of the shofar.